Page 28 - 2020 SoMJ Vol 73 No 2_Neat

The Birth of Rugby Football in Malawi 19

was created to further develop the game. The first recorded mention of the game
th
is to be found in the Nyasaland Times issued on 18 January 1921 under the
heading “Football”. I present the original article in full to illustrate the depth of
feeling the writer showed as he bemoaned the lack of what he termed the
“handling game”.

FOOTBALL.

“We have been asked why it is, with so many exponents of the Rugby
code of football resident in our midst, that efforts are not made to play
that game in Blantyre? The argument that the grounds are too hard will
not bear discussion, for, hard as they are, they are not half as hard as the
grounds on which the game is played in the Union of South Africa and in
Rhodesia. In both these countries the standard of Rugby football is far
higher than that of the sister code; in fact, its exponents have evolved a
game that, for science and brilliance of play, has gained for South Africa
recognition all over the world. It may be remarked also in Nyasaland the
Rugby game could be played in the wet season when the ground may be
as soft as anyone desires.
A sounder argument used in the past was that, whilst it was
difficult to raise teams of eleven players to turn out for the dribbling code,
it would be impossible, owing to the paucity of players, to put two fifteens
in the field. This argument does not hold good today. It is safe to say that
of the young men who have recently come into the country, and they are
numbered in their twenties, of every dozen nearly two-thirds claim to have
played under the Rugby rules as their winter pastime either in Britain or
South Africa. Under present circumstances therefore it should not be
difficult to raise two Rugby fifteens to play the game at least on one
Saturday of each month. This would afford not only some variety in the
pastimes which enable our young men to acquire recreation but would also
assist to find healthy physical exercise for more men than at present
participate in our games. Naturally, it would not be too much to ask some
of the Association exponents to emulate the enthusiasts of the handling
code who make it possible to play Association football regularly here. This
would ensure full teams taking the field. Intelligent participation in both
games would tend to mutual improvement in the exposition of each: it
would induce far more players to take part than is the case today and thus
2
render the task of arranging fixtures much easier.”

The author of the appeal is not revealed; however, his arguments are
clearly expressed:

2 Nyasaland Times 18th January 1921.